Win Win (2011)

Paul Giamatti is a man accustomed to losing on a daily basis in the movie Win Win. He is a struggling New Jersey attorney whose legal practice languishes during the day, while, in the afternoons, he doubles up as a coach for a high-school team that has never tasted victory. He is struggling to make ends meet financially and hides this situation from his crafty wife (Amy Ryan).

The court appoints Mike as the attorney for Leo Poplar, an elderly widowed man. He is suffering from dementia, but it’s in its initial stages but wishes to stay at home. Mike realizes that if the court appoints him as Leo’s care taker, he is entitled to 1500 dollars each month for upkeep. He claims that his family cannot be traced so he puts himself up for the job but instead of taking him back to his house, he admits him to a home for the elderly.

Mike’s actions are motivated by money at this point. By doing so, he is going against ethics. With his safely being looked after at the nursing home, he does not have to care about him, and the monthly upkeep money ends up as his.

Out of the blue, Kyle (Alex Shaffer) appears. He is the grandson of Leo. He has left his mom Cindy (Melanie Lynskey) who is no longer there for him. His mother is a drug addict who is undergoing rehabilitation in Ohio. With no one to turn to, Kyle shows up at his house. Leo and his daughter don’t communicate at all, no wonder he and his grandson have never met before. Mike spots Kyle sitting on his doorstep and after getting to know each other; he offers the teenage Kyle a place to live at the basement of his home.

Kyle’s appearance proves to be a mixed blessing for Mike. The teenager is a tattooed, bleached blonde who is a wild card. On the other hand, he turns out to be a talented wrestler and Mike enrolls him in school in order to help out his high school wrestling team that performs dismally.

The plot thickens when Cindy shows up, fresh from rehab and flat broke. She is seeking to benefit from Leo’s assets by claiming the monthly 1500 dollars for his upkeep. Mike’s corrupt dealings are threatened to be exposed in the film. The movie is full of entertainment and fun altogether.

Cast: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor

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